You might have read some information regarding the current attempt by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s to classify any fictional characters resembling under 18 as “nonexistent youth” and to regulate any “anti-social” sexual depiction of them as being “harmful publications” and therefore restrict publications featuring any such “harmful material” as being adult only.

In any case, some major developments have been going on in the last couple of weeks that have been scantly covered by the English speaking world, so here’s my write up. I’d like to write more, but I’m still recovering from a major sinus infection.

I hope the info below is informative.

– May 12th
The Tokyo Bar Association protests against this bill as it is an unnecessary intrusion by government into family’s private decision making on how to raise their children, impedes against freedom of expression. They advocate for the current prefectural ordinance regarding youth protection to be scrapped and started anew with an emphasis on enshrining the rights of children as espoused by the United Nations.http://www.toben.or.jp/news/opinion/2010/20100512.html

– May 21st
Japan’s largest association of lawyers, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, also speaks out against the youth bill revision. They not only advocate that the bill be scrapped, but they call on the current bill to be replaced with a new bill that places emphasis on protecting the rights of real children instead of limiting their freedoms.http://www.nichibenren.or.jp/ja/opinion/statement/100521_2.html

– May 23rd
An International symposium regarding the censorship over manga and the expanded role museums should play over manga theory takes place at Kyoto Seika University. It is attended by numerous academics, both Japanese as well as those from overseas. One of the important topics taken up during this symposium is recent developments over the nonexistent youth legislation and the role of international pressure against Japan over sexually explicit manga and anime.http://www.kyotomm.jp/event/lec/manga_hyogen.php

– May 27th
Yomiuri reports, TMG’s DPJ caucus demands the current draft of the youth protection bill to be withdrawn. TMG refuses to agree to any revisions to the current bill, making the prospect of the bill to be defeated in committee very high. DPJ is said to be actively contemplating not just revising the current bill, but scrapping the bill outright.http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20100527-00000161-yom-soci

Kyodo also back Yomiuri’s report, adding that now the centralist Seikatsusha Network caucus is joining DPJ’s call for the TMG to withdraw a bill that even its own Governor has admitted as being difficult to comprehend. It further states that, while the DPJ has prepared a revision to the proposed bill, the chances for its approval by the LDP and NKT is so low that they are considering they won’t even bother submitting it.http://www.47news.jp/CN/201005/CN2010052801000834.html

Yomuri also reports the DPJ has decided to formerly oppose the bill. This is a far cry from the previous position of “extending deliberations.” The bill will die if the DPJ and other opposition parties goes ahead with what Yomiuri and others have reported.http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/20100529-OYT1T00105.htm

SHAMELESS PLUG : Two new books on the Nonexistent Youth Bill to be published, both featuring yours truly.